Notre Dame is Expected to Hire Illinois DC Aaron Henry as Defensive Backs Coach
Mike Mickens left massive shoes to fill in the Notre Dame secondary when he departed for the Baltimore Ravens in January, but Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish appear to have landed a proven and highly respected replacement.
Notre Dame is expected to hire Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry as its next defensive backs coach, sources tell ISD.
Matt Zenitz was the first to report.
Henry arrives in South Bend with a strong track record of developing elite defensive backs and coordinating disruptive defenses at the Power Five level. He joined Illinois in 2021 as defensive backs coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2023.
In 2022, Henry was named FootballScoop’s Defensive Backs Coach of the Year after leading an Illinois unit that ranked No. 1 nationally in scoring defense, interceptions, takeaways and passing-efficiency defense.
That secondary also produced top-end NFL talent. Devon Witherspoon became the highest-drafted defensive back in Illinois history when he was selected No. 5 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Jartavius Martin and Sydney Brown were also taken within the first three rounds that same year.
Five Illinois defenders earned All-Big Ten honors in 2023 during his first year as defensive coordinator, including defensive back Xavier Scott.
During Henry’s first season as defensive coordinator in 2023, five Illinois defenders earned All-Big Ten honors, including defensive back Xavier Scott. The 2024 Illini defense continued to thrive, ranking 10th nationally with 15 forced fumbles and tying for fifth in the Big Ten with 24 sacks.
Scott finished second in the conference with four interceptions and earned First Team All-Big Ten honors, while defensive back Matthew Bailey was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and tied a program bowl record with 13 tackles.
Illinois took another step forward in 2025, with eight starters earning All-Big Ten recognition. The Illini also capped the season by holding Tennessee to a season-low 278 total yards in a Music City Bowl victory.
Henry brings familiarity with Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator. He played defensive back at Wisconsin, where he was coached by Chris Ash. Henry earned First Team All-Big Ten honors in 2011 and finished his Badgers career with 181 tackles, seven interceptions and 23 passes defended.
That relationship continued into the coaching ranks, as Ash hired Henry to his first staff at Rutgers in 2016.
AARON HENRY FILE
2014-15: Arkansas - Grad Assistant
2016: Rutgers - Defensive Backs
2017: NC State - Safeties
2018-19: NC State - Cornerbacks
2020: Vanderbilt - Cornebacks
2021-22: Illinois - Defensive Backs
2023-2025: Illinois - Defensive Coordinator and Secondary Coach
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